ANDERSON, S.C. – Anderson County received some tail wagging good news this week. The county council agreed to move forward with the city’s first dog park.
It’s taken years for the community to make it happen for their furry friends. Signs that read “TBA Dog Park” have been posted inside Anderson businesses since 2013.
“It is hard to stand anywhere downtown Anderson without seeing people walk their dogs,” said Dr. Marshall Meadors, of the TBA Downtown Anderson Dog Park group.
Right now there’s nowhere for the four legged friends to run free.
“She sees a dog and she can’t wait for her to get close so they can greet each other,” said Lois Buckman about her dog’s walks. “I usually go and find the little bit of grass that I can find.”
“I’d like to let him loose,” said dog owner Bill Joseph. “Take him off the leash and let him run.”
“We’ve visited dog parks around the state and country and we have really seen how the dog parks bring people together,” added Dr. Meadors. “It is so much fun. It will bring pleasure to so many dogs, so many people. It will be fun.”
Finally this year the group To Benefit Anderson raised the right amount of money with the Foothills Community Foundation. Through several private donations and fundraisers, they now have over $100,000 for the park.
“It is not only for the dogs, I think it will be something beautiful for the city,” said Buckman.
“I havent even been over there. So I am looking forward to seeing what it is like,” added Andrew Farmer.
Just behind the Anderson Public Library on the corner of Society Street and Fant Street, the county council gave the approval Tuesday night to transform 3 acres of wooded land into the city’s first dog park.
The park will be divided into two fenced in areas, one side for small dogs and the other for large dogs. There will also be a parking area, with the entrance facing Fant Street.They plan on keeping most of the trees. So the dogs can play fetch unleashed in the cool shade with other dogs their size.
The lot is owned by the county and partially by ANMED Health Hospital. The county is leasing the dog park yearly for $1. Anderson city will likely keep it maintained.
Anderson county council says there is still planning to be done before construction begins. But the TBA Dog Park group says the dog park is expected to open by this August.
A play called The Dog Park is taking the stage at Electric City Playhouse June 10th through the 12th. Donations will be taken at the play for the dog park’s construction.
You can also send donations to the “TBA Dog Park” Foothills Community Foundation, P.O. Box 1228 Anderson, SC 29622.
